The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-07-07
A Talk by the Farmers.

AND PRACTICAL RESULTS PARAMOUNT
TO MERE PARTY ALLEGIANCE.
IF one were to Judge by the number pres
emit at meeting of the farmers held II
Charlottesville last Monday, he would moi
be greatly impressed with the strength OF
the farmers movement-a move ment
which started last winter in the orga MIA
ton of the Farmers Assembly OF Virgin
ia. If, however, he were to base his opln-
ion upon the earnestness and deternllna-
tion manifested, the force of the argument
presented, and the independent spirit that
now and then cropped out during the
course of the proceedings, he might well
conclude that power could be crystallzed
the effects of the action Of which might
possibly be far reaching.
The 4th of July was fixed upon as the
date for a meeting of the Farmers Assem-
hly of Albemarle, and members OF the
State organization, together with those in
terested in agriculture, were invited from
the sections adjacent. Outside OF the Al
bemarle delegation, the representation
from other counties was meagre, mum er-
ing scarcely dozen in all. Augustus con-
tingent was composed of Capt. Chas. Graf
tan and Hon. A. B. Lightner, and various
other counties of the Piedmont section
were represented by prominent citizens.
July court, or any other first Monday OF
the month. would have to be chilly indeed
| if it did not bring together one or more
public meetings in Charlottesville. There
must be something in the atmosphere OF
Albemarle which requires the lungs TO De
EXPANDED at least once month by puollc
speaking OF vociferous applause. No 9TH
er species of vocal exercise is equal to the
demand upon the system. So firmly rooted
| is this practice, born of necessity, that
| every other fortnight the freemen flock
into the county centre and there discharge
the patriotic duty. Monday last was no
exception to the rule. Both political par
ties held meetings, heard speeches, cheered
to their heart S content, organized for the
next occasion. amid new applause, and then
adjourned to the street corners to discuss
the days proceedings and lay plans for the
futnre. In the Republican meeting, which
was large one, Capt. Sandy Lawson was
reelected county chairman, and in the
Democratic meeting similar distinction
was conferred upon Capt. Micajah Woods.
| After the adjournment Of the Democratic
meeting. which was held in the court
house, the
| FARMERS MEETING
was called to order by Secretary u. w.
Clarke. There were not over $50 or 2oo
men in the house, when, after the trans
action of some preliminary business, Col.
r. r. w. Duke introduced
| CAPT. j. F. SLAUGHTER,
of Lynchburg, as one of the speakers OF
the day.
| Capt Slaughter commenced by depicting
the depressed condition of the farming in
] terests of the State Year by year, he said,
the farmers see their lands depreciating,
prices of their products reduced. their
numbers depleted by emigration. and their
interests, as class, surely, yet swiftly,
drifting toward bankruptcy. About them
on every hand the evidences of these facts
are manifest; they see them, realize them,
and vet make no inquiry into the causes:
no effort to regain the loss ground, mol
even hold their own. The soil is kindly
the climate not surpassed by any the
sim shines on, natures rich doWry is
spread out on every side, the population
is industrious and hard working, and vel
with all of these advantages, the farmers
consider themselves lucky it the result OF
the wears work does not find them in debt
Whv does this condition exist? The rea
son is plain. People refuse to buy the
lane. and the flower of our young manhood
seeks another field for it's labor, simply
because the agricultural interests are dis
criminated against in the use OF the ways
and means which their money has prOVld
ed to place their products in the market
centres. The railroads have been purchas
ed by foreign capitalists, and are run IL
the interest of their owners instead OF fol
the benefit of the people. Take the Nor
folk & Western r. r., which is but on IL
Illustration of the system. That road coulo
be built for $25, 900, and yet it has fixeo
debt of oyer 100000 per mile. The new
debt was created and the bonds issued fol
the purpose of putting money into the
pockets of the holders thereof. In this
way the piling up of the debt has meant
the amassing of fortunes. How Because
the holders of the bonds thus issued de
clare that they must charge such freight
rates as will meet the interest ON their tic
titious Investments. Necessarily this
must come out of the farmer. SO that IN
stead of paying the interest on $25, 900 they
are compelled to meet it on sum double
| that amount. What is the remedy? There
is remedy, sure and effective. # has
been tried and found to work out bench
cial results. 1t has passed the ordeal o.
, the courts after the bitterest fights, ant
received the sanction of the highest judi
, cial tribunal. That remedy is the Georgl;
Railroad law, and 1 earnestly urge the far
mers of Virginia not to halt or hold OF
, until duplicate Of that law is on the sta
| tute books Of Virginia. Under it's opera
ton in Georgia the freight rates have de
creased 33s per cent, whilst the roads hav'
been enabled to DECLARE an annual DIVIDEND
of from - to Is per cent. The EFFECTS o
the operation of the law are seen IN tn
revival Of prosperity in the agriculture
communities, the increase OF the value
lands, and return to the farmer common
surate with his efforts.
Texas has also passed somewhat SINH
lar law, apd tbs tremendous immigration
to that State is largely due to this source
These two States have made wonderful
strides during the past decade, and one
the principal causes of the revival is tn
assurance they have issued that the profit
of the farm should not be absorbed in tn
marketing of the products. In neithe
case have the railroad companies suffered
although it was declared that the adoption
Of the law would carry with it the ruina
tion of the transportation lines. This i
shown, not only in the dividends declared
> but in TIE extension of lines, the construc
= tion of new roads, ana the Improvement o
equipment.